Cirrus8

When does the A8 torque converter lockup? On my C5, it locked at approx 43 mph in 4th gear. This A8 seems to lockup much sooner and in every gear when in the Sport mode. I can feel compression braking when ever I let up on the throttle. It simply does not free wheel.

WelderGuy

I think it's just staying in the lower gear longer, not locking up the torque converter. That avoids unnecessary shifting, such as when you're going through a subdivision with twisty roads at low/moderate speeds with short periods of acceleration and deceleration.

The feature isn't unique to the C7...my '08 sports car with a 5-speed automatic does the same thing.